Latest content: Governance and law

The Commonwealth Observer Group, led by former Prime Minister of Jamaica Bruce Golding, has issued its preliminary findings on the 2026 General Election in The Bahamas, commending the peaceful conduct of the polls while reiterating long standing concerns about the institutional framework governing elections.

Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Hon Bruce Golding, has been appointed to lead a Commonwealth Observer Group for The Bahamas’ General Election scheduled for 12 May.

By Dr Mohamed Z M Aazim, Adviser, Debt Management, Commonwealth Secretariat.

The Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting opened in Fiji today with calls for sustained action to ensure the rule of law delivers progress and shared prosperity for the people of the Commonwealth in an increasingly uncertain world.

Welcome Address by Prime Minister of Fiji, Hon Sitiveni L. Rabuka, at the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting (CLMM) 2026 at the The Crown Plaza Hotel on Monday 9 February 2026.

Remarks by the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the opening ceremony and gala dinner of the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting (CLMM) 2026 at the The Crown Plaza Hotel on Monday 9 February 2026.

The Commonwealth Observer Group to Bangladesh has commenced its observation of pre-poll arrangements and preparations for the forthcoming Parliamentary Election and Referendum, reaffirming the Commonwealth’s solidarity with the people of Bangladesh at this important moment in the country’s democratic journey.

Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon Shirley Botchwey, has deployed a team of Commonwealth experts to observe the February 11 General Election in Barbados.

Fiji will host the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting from 9 to 12 February 2026 at the Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort in Nadi.

The publication of the second edition of the Curriculum Framework for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represents a significant step forward in the ongoing transformation of education as an essential driver for sustainable development throughout the Commonwealth.

H.E Nana Akufo-Addo, former President of the Republic of Ghana, will lead the Commonwealth Observer Group for Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary elections and the referendum on the July Charter. The Charter is a post-uprising reform framework proposing political and constitutional changes. Both polls are scheduled for 12 February 2026.

The Commonwealth has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting democratic elections and upholding the principles of impartial observation, as set out in the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation (DoP).

The Commonwealth Secretariat, in partnership with the Chandler Institute for Justice, is conducting a capacity-building programme on legislative drafting and law reform for the Kingdom of Eswatini’s Attorney General’s Office, which sits within the Ministry of Justice.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon Shirley Botchwey, has appointed HE Dr Lazarus Chakwera, the immediate past President of Malawi, as her Special Envoy to the United Republic of Tanzania.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General Hon. Shirley Botchwey will deploy a Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) to observe the forthcoming general and regional elections in Guyana, scheduled for 1 September 2025.

As superpower-driven artificial intelligence (AI) models evolve at pace, Chatham House research is turning the lens to how post-colonial Commonwealth countries are meaningfully shaping the global AI governance space. At a recent roundtable on the research, questions around inclusivity, language, localisation and job security were candidly addressed.

A Commonwealth Latimer House Dialogue was held in Tonga last week to help strengthen how the country’s judicial, executive and legislative branches work together in service of the nation.